MIKEL ARTETA is “psychologically destroying” Kai Havertz according to Chris Sutton.
Havertz, who arrived at the Emirates for £65m this summer, has been used both as a midfielder and a centre-forward by the Gunners boss this season.
And Sutton reckons that playing Havertz up top is only knocking his confidence and making him perform below the level he can.
Speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off Podcast, he said: “I don’t think that Mikel Arteta picking Kai Havertz as a central striker or a false nine is doing any good for the Arsenal team, and I don’t think he’s doing any good for Kai Havertz.
“I think psychologically, when he knows he is playing as a central striker, he looks like he is shackled. He looks like the weight of the shirt is too great for him.
“He looks like he dithers and delays, just as he did on a couple of occasions in the first half.”
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Havertz has managed four goals and one assist in the league so far this term, but was deployed in midfield for all of the games in which he has found the back of the net.
Arsenal are struggling for confidence as a whole up front with the north Londoners scoring just one goal in their last three games despite taking 61 shots in that time.
While injury problems to Gabriel Jesus has left Arteta having to tinker with his squad in order to rest Eddie Nketiah during a hectic schedule.
But former Blackburn and Celtic striker Sutton, has claimed that playing Havertz up top is only knocking the confidence of both the German and Nketiah.
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He explained: “Kai Havertz is a good footballer, but I think Mikel Arteta playing him as a number nine, it just absolutely kills him, destroys him psychologically.
“He has to play him as an eight. And we’ve seen this season that when he does play as an eight, he seems play freer, he seems to enjoy it more.
“So I think that was a huge mistake from Mikel Arteta and something which he really needs to think about.
“What message does that send to Eddie Nketiah? If he’s desperate and plays Havertz as a nine, what is Eddie Nketiah thinking?”
Nketiah is Arsenal’s second top scorer in the Premier League this season with his five goals only bettered by the six that Bukayo Saka has netted.
The Gunners have been linked with a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney this month as they look to add more goals to their attack to mount a title charge.
But a deal seems unlikely with reports suggesting the Bees would be looking for around £100m for their bagsman – a fee Arsenal would struggle to pay in the winter window.
Arsenal have won just one game in their last seven fixtures and are on a run of three consecutive losses in all competitions.
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They’re due to jet off for a warm weather training camp in Dubai this week to try and re-track their season.
They then re-start their campaign on January 20 when they welcome London rivals Crystal Palace to the Emirates Stadium.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
